Safety switch-lock.



J. A. DUNN.

SAFETY SWITCH LOCK.

APPLICATION 111.130 NOV- 11. 1911.

1,302,831., 191116111611 Apr. 29,1919.

lUhUiTDiD JOHN A. DUNN, 0F AUGUSTA, GEORGIA.

SAFETY SWITCH-LOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 29, 1913 Application filed November 17, 1917. Serial No. 202,592.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN A. DUNN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Augusta, in the county of Richmond and State of Georgia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Safety Switch-Locks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to switch locks and the object is to provide improved means for securing a switch point in position when thrown by the operating mechanism.

A further object is to provide in connection with an operating rod, a reciprocating member adapted to engage the switch point and certain novel construction hereinafter described for opera-ting the reciprocating member and causing it to engage the switch point at the moment it is thrown into operative position.

A. further object is to provide in connection with a reciprocating locking member of the character mentioned, and slidable longitudinally with reference to the main rail, a resiliently mounted device and a pivoted member connected therewith and adapted for connection with the switch operating rod.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view showing a portion of the operating elements of the device in another position, the switch being open.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the operating mechanism, one of the rails of the main line being shown in vertical transverse section.

Fig. 4 is a detail view showing means permitting the operating rod to move the locking device after the switch has been closed.

Referring to the drawings in detail, one of the rails of the main line is designated 10, the switch rail, or switch point, is shown at 12 and the cross ties are designated 13. A reciprocable locking member is shown as a whole at 14 and includes a lower plate portion 15 and upwardly extending portions 16 and 17 embracing the web portion of the rail and contacting with the upper surface of th flange portion thereof. The portion 17 is formed as an independent member and is connected with the lower plate portion 15 by means of a bolt or bolts 18. This member 17 carries a laterally extending portion 19 to which is pivotally secured a connecting rod 20 comprising a plurality of end portions suitably connected and an intermediate coiled spring 21. The connecting rod 20 is pivoted at 24 to a bell crank lever 25 which in turn is pivoted at 26 on an offset portion 27 of a plate member 28 secured to one of the cross ties 13 by means of spikes 29. This provides a stool or standard for mounting the bell crank lever. One end of the lever last named is substantially L-shaped and is provided with a slot 30 having an outwardly turned portion 31, this slot being engaged by a pin- 32 on switch operating rod 33.

The reciprocable locking member 14 is provided with a locking shoulder 34 which constitutes the element immediately engaging the point of the switch rail 12.

l/Vhen in closed position the pin 32 carried by rod 33 rests in the end 31 of the slot formed in lever 25. When the switch is in open position, however, the pin 32 rests in the opposite end of said slot designated 36, the slotted portion of the lever'then lying sulcistantially parallel with the operating ro The spring 21 forming an element of the connecting member 20 is for the purpose of insuring the eventual closing of the locking member on the switch point in the event that slight derangement of the point should interfere with proper engagement. The movement of the reciprocable member would cease for an instant, and during the interval the tension of the spring would be increased, and as soon as the parts were free to move the spring would cause full engagement be tween the locking shoulder 34 and the switch point.

Rod 33 carries a pin 40 engaging a slot 41 in a sleeve or the like designated 42 and secured to the switch rail 12 in the manner shown. In view of the pin and slot connection locking member 34 is released before movement is imparted to the switch rail.

In order however to provide further for this operation, and more especially for the closing movement, the rod 33 is formed in two relatively movable sections as illustrated in Fig. 4. Section 33 has a recess in the end thereof receiving a coiled spring 33" having its ends fixed to the elements 33, 33. The spring is of suficient strength to cause the switch rail to move when free to move, and when it comes into contact with rail 10 the spring relaxes sufficiently to permit rod 33 to operate the locking device by the continued movement of the bell crank lever.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device of the class described, a reciprocable locking member including a locking shoulder adapted to engage the point of a switch rail, a connecting rod pivotally secured to the reciprocable member, a lever pivoted to the connecting rod, said lever including a deflected portion having a slot therein, a switch operating rod, and an engaging device on the rod last named and cooperating with the slot.

2. In a device of the class described, a reciprocable member including a shoulder adapted to engage and lock the point of a switch rail, a connecting member including a resilient device pivotally secured to the reciprocable member, a pivotally mounted lever provided with a slot, said lever being connected at a point remote from the slot with the aforesaid connecting member, an

operating rod, and an engaging device carried thereby and cooperating with said slot.

3. In a device of the class described, a reciprocable member including a lower plate and an upwardly extending portion adapted to contact with the flange and with the web of a rail, a detachable portion connected with said plate and contacting with the web on the opposite side of the rail, a connecting member including a resilient device pivotally connected to said detachable member,

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

a bell crank lever and means for pivotally mounting the latter, said lever having one end thereof provided with a slot, an operating rod, an engaging device carried thereby cooperating with the slot, and a locking member carried by the reciprocable member and adapted to engage the point of a switch rail.

4. In a device of the class described, a reciprocable member comprising a lower plate and an upwardly extending member contacting with the upper side of the flange and with the web of a rail, a detachable member connected with the plate on the opposite side of the rail and contacting with the web on the corresponding side thereof, a laterally extending device carried by the detachable member, a connecting member including a resilient device having pivotal connection with the laterally extending member, a bell crank lever, one arm of which is of L shape, means for pivoting the lever to the connecting member, the L- shaped portion of the lever being provided with a slot, the major portion of which extends longitud'inally with reference to the opposite arm of said lever, a switch operating rod, an engaging device carried thereby and cooperating with said slot, and a shoulder carried by the reciprocable member and adapted to engage the point of a switch rail.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOHN A. DUNN.

Washington, D. G. 

